One national hockey writer basically agrees with that assessment but another doesn't hold Howard in the same regard.

Sam McCaig of Yahoo! Sports ranked the top 30 goalies in the NHL and he didn't even have Howard in the top half. McCaig put Howard No. 17 on a list that had Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings, Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators ranked 1-2-3.

"He didn't get much credit when the Red Wings were stacked," McCaig wrote, "but Howard's value has become more and more visible as the stars – especially Nicklas Lidstrom – have left Detroit."

McCaig limited his choices to the 30 goalies he believes will be No. 1 for their respective teams next season while pointing out that some potential backups could have been on the list had they been eligible under his rules.

"The best indication that Howard's the real deal is that he forced the Red Wings to actually invest real dollars in the goaltending spot under GM Ken Holland," Wyshynski wrote. "That his numbers didn't fall off post-Lidstrom was a major test passed for Howard, who frankly made the blueline corps in front of him better than it looked on paper. His playoff numbers could be better, but he's as dependable as they come. Plus we're fond of any goalie with the "-y" nickname, much like Timmy Thomas and the various Cor(e)ys. Memo to Mason: Go with 'Stevie.' "

Wyshynski also had Quick and Lundqvist ranked 1-2 but unlike McCaig had Rinne No. 4 behind Vancouver's Robert Luongo.

Unlike McCaig, Wyshynski limited his list to the top 10 goalies in the NHL. And although he had Quick at the top of the list, he doesn't think the Kings' netminder is the best goalie in the world.

Who deserves that title?

"The answer, as always, is Dominik Hasek, and will be until he takes his last breath on this mortal plane," Wyshynski wrote. "But being that Hasek is 48 and the National Hockey League is completely ageist, we're left to ponder which goaltender is the best in the NHL."